News from the Creek
Hippo Nation...Better Together! February 2021
A Note from your CCE Principal
Dear CCES Families--
Even with a temporary closure at CCE, our campus is excited to keep moving forward with student progress!
As we welcome the month of February, it's hard to believe that the second semester has already begun and January is in the books! As I review the GREAT progress that students are making on their academic screeners, interim assessments, grades, and teacher observations, there are many factors that make students successful. This is a wonderful time to share them with our families and to continue to look forward to great things that will happen in the second semester.
Celebration #1: Attendance. Research shows that students who do well academically have great attendance. Most students at CCE are present (96% average daily attendance) during both in-person learning and remotely. We certainly understand that students do sometimes get sick or have doctor's appointments and there is the need for some absences, but remember that there is a lot missed each moment they are absent. In addition, when students are tardy, they often feel lost in their learning when they enter their classrooms because learning has started without them.
Celebration #2: Participation. Students who are performing well in the classroom are actively engaged. Our teachers do an amazing job in designing engaging lessons based on the TEKs and when we visit the classrooms, we know that students are actively participating at various levels. Encourage your student to ask questions, to be active listeners, to take notes, to be visible on camera, etc. These reminders can help students feel connected to their learning and demonstrate their understanding. This participation also helps our teachers learn which areas students may need support with.
Celebration #3: Character We know that our passion is to create life-long learners and well-rounded individuals. We see students working to model the HippoWay Traits daily. We set expectations to remind students to Be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. We ask students to live the HippoWay by "Give it, Own it, Live it" when we talk about the application of those traits. We encourage all of our students to do their best, even when things are challenging. This teaches students to take on the challenge to reach success! Our most successful students continue to work hard even when things are challenging. We hope you will encourage and inspire this at home as we do the same here at CCE.
Thank you for joining me in celebrating the many LEGENDARY things that are going well at CCE! Thank you for your support!
Cottonwood Creek Elementary has the BEST Staff, Students, and Families! We truly are "Better Together"! Our students are "Legendary" at Cottonwood Creek Elementary!
With Hippo Nation in Mind at CCE,
Linda Pachicano
Principal, Cottonwood Creek Elementary
How are we doing with our Campus Improvement Plan ?
A Campus Improvement Plan (CIP) is the "map" that our campus uses to guide all of the decisions that we take at our campus to support continuous improvement. Our CIP committee is composed of a variety of teacher representatives, community business members, and parent representatives.
Check out the progress that is being made! Thank you to all of our members for their input and for representing our campus!
What's happening at The Creek?
February is Black History Month; Campus Activities Planned Virtually for Staff and Students to Celebrate!
2/1-2/5: School Counselor Appreciation Week. Please send Mrs. Kozak an email or virtual card, thanking her for all she does to support students at CCE! Thank you, Mrs. Kozak! @ valerie.kozak@huttoisd.net
2/1: Attendance 101 Truancy Meeting with Ms. Pachicano (Invites sent to parents individually, virtual meetings) 5:00-5:30 PM
2/4: PTA General Meeting; 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Check the CCE PTA FB Page for virtual link)
2/12: CCE Black History Month Virtual Performance (Email coming soon from our Counseling Committee) w/ Elizabeth Kahura, Presenter, Thank you PTA for funding this!
CCE "Make a Valentine" Party; Students will make Valentines to take home to Family!
2/15- 2/16: Teacher Planning Day/Student Holiday (No School for Students)
2/22-4/30: TELPAS Testing Window Opens (State Assessment for English Language Learners)
2/23- School Picture Day! Email blast with information forthcoming, thank you!
2/25: Hutto ISD School Board Meeting 7-10 PM
Valentine's Day Celebrations are coming to CCE! ( See HISD Elementary Campus Flier below)
Reminders from our front office:
* All Elementary Campuses are not accepting outside deliveries for staff and students i.e. lunch boxes, birthday items, snacks, backpacks, donations, flowers/gifts for teachers. Our goal is to practice social distancing and health guidelines and avoid unnecessary exposure to our staff and students.
*If you have a doctor's appointment and need to pick up your child, call the school office to notify them that you will be visiting, drive around the loop of the school and park in the front parking lot, walk up to the front entrance and ring the doorbell to the right on the wall, have your identification ready to show and we will call for your student and escort them to you outside. The office staff will sign them out and then back in when they return.
* Make sure students arrive on time each day, school begins at 7:40. Each day that a student is tardy equals cumulative learning experiences that are missed in the classroom. Students often feel stressed when they don't know what they have missed when they are late, let's help them be successful by getting them to school on time.
* Campuses are still closed to visitors at this time, thank you for supporting us in a million other ways as we hope to get back to a semi-normal visitor policy soon!
From our CCES Family to Yours!
Hope you enjoyed the snow as much as our staff did! Check out their family pictures below!
Mrs. Koenning (2nd Grade) & Family! Snowman Fun! Brrr!
Mrs. Marsh (4th Grade) & Family! Bundled Up & Ready to Play!
Mrs. Babb (2nd Grade) & Family! Having fun in the Snow!
Mrs. Alba's Kids Catching Snowflakes with their Tongues!
Mrs. McDade (2nd Grade) & Family! Beautiful Smiles & Snow!
Mrs. Elizondo's (3rd Grade) Family! Double Snowman Building!
Mrs. Foote's Husband (Kinder) and dogs going out to measure the snow!
Mrs. Camp's (1st Grade) family playing in the Snow!
Mrs. Connaughty and her daughters! Snow Ready!
Mrs. Mikel's daughter and her snowman! Very cute!
Mrs. Jeffers' (Intervention) puppy, Copper enjoys the Snowy Weather, too!
Ms. Pollini’s son (Music), Prodigy, & baby snowman! How cute!
Mrs. Fox (Intervention) and Family! First SNOW moment!
Dr. Marquez' (Instructional Coach) Children! About to have FUN in the Snow!
Mrs. Kozak (Counselor) & Family say "Hello" to CCE Families!
Mrs. Salazar's son making a Snow Angel!
Mrs. J Sanchez' Family making a Snowman!
Mrs. M Garza's daughter and snowman sending smiles your way!
Have you Heard of Hazel Health at HISD?
News from Hazel Health: Weekly Blog & Ask a Doctor Webinar Series!
Our partner Hazel Health shares useful health tips for families in their Healthy Habits series. This week's blog topic: COVID-19 Vaccine Series Part I: How will the vaccine protect my family from getting COVID-19?
You can learn more about this week's topic, or ask one of the Hazel Health providers a question during the upcoming Ask a Doctor webinar. Register to join or watch on Facebook Live on January 27th, 2021 at 3:00 p.m PST.
Remember, families can sign up for Hazel or contact a doctor for students at: my.hazel.co/Huttoisd
Noticias de Hazel Health: Blog semanal y serie de seminarios web Pregunte a un médico
Hazel Health comparte consejos de salud útiles para las familias en su serie Hábitos saludables. Tema del blog de esta semana: Serie de vacunas COVID-19 Parte I: ¿Cómo protegerá la vacuna a mi familia de contraer COVID-19?
Puede obtener más información sobre el tema de esta semana o hacer una pregunta a uno de los proveedores de Hazel Health durante el seminario web semanal Pregunte a un médico. Regístrese para unirse o mirar en Facebook Live el 26 de enero de 2021 a las 10:00 a.m PST
Recuerde, las familias pueden inscribirse en Hazel o comunicarse con un médico para estudiantes en my.hazel.co/Huttoisd
Check your student's grades through Skyward:
Stay abreast of your student's progress by checking Skyward Family Access periodically. Don't remember how to do this?
Free parent training video in Spanish
Does My Child Need Special Education? What Does this Mean & What is the Process?
The workshop walks parents through the process of pre-referral to IEP. We explain the intention of special eduction to clarify cultural misunderstandings, explain the pre-referral processes of RtI/MTSS, define IDEA/LRE/IEP, we give understanding to disability evaluations with and without standardized scores, and dispel some myths about bilingual evaluations. We ensure parent rights as a member throughout the workshop and close with some important research points on bilingual development that parents should be aware of.
PTA Supports CCE!!
PTA has given back to CCE!
- Hand Sanitizing Stands at every campus entry
- Birthday Pencils & Bookmarks for Students for the year
- Pumpkins for Classroom Carving & Learning Projects
- Goodie Bags for Staff Appreciation
- Playscape Enhancements
- Support with Virtual Events such as Trunk or Treat, etc.
- Time Donation to create a beautiful fence display to welcome our community
- Thanksgiving Table Covers for all our students and staff to enjoy!
- Bus Driver Appreciation Gifts!
- Monthly Staff Treats!
- HippoTickets Prizes for Students!
- Santa Supper Goodie Bags for Students
- Arts/Crafts Items for Christmas Parties
- Supporting with Decorating of the Campus
- Chalk the Walk Event
- Treats for Teacher Appreciation
CCE knows that it's PTA supports our campus! We appreciate you, PTA!
If you haven't already joined PTA, it's only $10 to join for the year. If you would like to be part of a PTA committee and help make GREAT things happen at CCE, reach out to cottonwoodcreekpta@gmail.com. We always need support! Thank you!
Want to be part of our Motivation Tuesday Video for Staff and Students?
Our Counselor is Launching "Tuesday Morning Motivation!" at CCE. Want to be a part of next week's motivation video? Students, Hutto community members, family members, staff, all are welcome to share some positive vibes and messages for the week!!!! Just email valerie.kozak@huttoisd.net or send your motivational video/message through the CCE FB page inbox.
~Mrs.Kozak, school counselor
CCE believes in our students and their potential!
Check us out on Social Media!
Email: cces.secretary@huttoisd.net
Website: http://hipponation.org/cces
Location: 3160 Limmer Loop, Hutto, TX 78634, USA
Phone: 512-759-5430
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CottonwoodCreekElementary/
Twitter: @CCES_HISD